Sheet-feeding mechanism.



F. D. RANDOLPH. SHEET FEEDING MEOHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APEJB, 190s.

.Patented July 8, 1913.

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l l l W/TNESSES ATTORNEY F. D. RANDOLPH. SHEET FBBDING MEGHANISM. APPLIOATION FILED 111111.18. 190B.

lg, Patented July 8, 1913.

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I'. D. RANDOLPH. SHEET FEBDING MECHANISM. APPLIUATION Hmm Amma, woe.

Patented July 8, 1913.

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Afro/maya F. D. RANDOLPH. SHEET FEEDING MBGHANISM. APPLICATION FILED APB. 16, 1908.

66,528 Patented July 8,1913.

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F. D. RANDOLPH. SHEET PEBDING MEOHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED APnJa, 190s.

1,066,528. Patented July 8, 1913.

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iTED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK D. RANDOLPH, F PLAINEIELD, NEW JERSEY, .ASSIGNOR TO THE POTTER PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, 0F PLAINFIELD, lNEW' JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8,1913.

Application tiled April 18, 1908. Serial N o. 427,876.

To all 'whom iff/nay concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK D. RANDOLPH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Plainfield, in the county of Union A and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet- Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

'llie present invention relates generally to sheet feeding and registering devices, and has more particularly reference to a Inachine fpr feeding and registering sheets of t-iii or other materialfto a printing or other machine.

The invention consists of the following features: In feeding sheets of tin it is somewhat of a problem to obtain good side registering of the sheet owing to the fact that the variations from the standard in the size of individual sheets is considerable, and, frequently, the two side edges of the'sheet are not parallel. To overcome this difficulty there is provided a side registering device which is adapted to place the sheet in correct side register and to so maintain it until the sheet is seized by the sheet taking devices on the' cylinder. To effect this, the side registering .device is adapted to follow the feeding movement of the sheet. In the form here disclosed, the side registering device is iven a reciprocating motion both longitudinally and transversely of the sheet, the side registering devices moving transversely away from the sheet substantially attlie moment the sheet taking devices Seize the sheet, and preferably just after the sheet ing devices on the cylinder; and it therefore' important/that the side register he maintained until the Sheetcciitacts with the front ga ves.

Speci ca .Y consists of a transversely'extending carriage forming a giiideivay, iiieans for reciprocating said carriage longitudinally, and side' lly the rside, registering devce gages transversely movable in the said guideway. Suitable means for adjusting these side gages are provided.

Any suitable means may be provided for feeding the sheet forward but preferably a pushing device is arranged which engages with the tail end of the sheet to move it` riage provided with yieldingly supported upright pusher lingers. Suitablenieans are provided for adjusting said fingersl longitudinally.

In order to accommodate different lengths of sheets, the sheet support is adapted to be lengthened and shortened, and the pushing device is provided with means for varying its position to correspond with the length of the Isheet to be fed. i A

'It is advantageous to avoid the necessity of requiring the operator always to place a sheet in the machine at the exact moment the feeding devices are timed to operate. For this purpose there is provided a feed table upon which the sheet may be placed, and means are provided for feeding the sheet so placed upon the feed table onto the sheet support in front of the 'Ipiishing device at the proper moment. hese means may consist, as here shown, of a pair of vifotatable rollers adapted to nip the sheet at the proper moment and feed it in. In connection with the foregoing, there may be eniployed a platform or holding a stack of sheets, adapted to be automatically raised as the sheets are taken off. A convenient arrangement of these features resides in hav- 'ing an auxiliary frameworl which is adjustable 0n the main framework and which is adapted to support the feed table, the platform, and the means for feeding the sheet from the feed table to the sheet support. Suitable driving connections are made to operate the means carried'by the auxiliary frame and these driving connections are ad- 'iistabl e to compensate'for the adjustment of the auxiliary frame. Likewise the operating mechanism forthe pushing device isfadjiistable. Further, the sheet support is carried at one end on the auxiliary framework and is adapted to be shortened orA In the accompanying drawings the invention is embodied in a concrete and preferred form but variations may of course be made from the structure shown without departing from the legitimate and intended scope of the invention.

In the said drawings Figure 1 is a general side elevation of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail View in section of the connection for intermittently raising the stack of tin. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 Fig. 4 isa longitudinal vertical sectional view on the line 4-'4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of part ofthe connection for operating the upper roller on' the feed table. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view 1 in side elevation of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional View on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line8-8 of Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a plan View, part-ly broken, illustrating the-side registering device. Fig. 10 is an end view looking in'the direction of the arrow 10 of Fig. 9 partly in section. Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line'11-11 of Fig. 8. Fig. 12 is a detail view of one end of the impression cylinder, partly in section. Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line 13-13, of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig; 13, showing the sheet taking device on the cylinder in 'the act of seizing a sheet. Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line\l5-15 o f Fig. 12. Fig. 16 is a sectional view on thev line 16-16 of Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a view similar to Figs.

' 13 and 14, showing the sheet taking device in the act of releasing a sheet.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in diiferent views. v

1 indicates the mainframework for properlyl` supporting the parts comprising the machine.

The invention isvhere shown associated with a printing machine of a well known type. It is to be understood', however, that the sheet feeding and registering' devices maybe used in connection with other apparatus for acting upon-the sheets fed.

The rinting machine here disclosed consists o an impression cylinder .2, a transfer cylinder 3 having the rubber off-set blanket 4, and the plate or type cylinder 5.

The side registering device is constructed as follows: 35 denotes a suitable sheet support in front of the printing machine. 63 indicates a .transversely extending carriage, having a guideway 64 extending transvers'ely of the machine, and adapted to slide threaded connection 79.

'gage member means of the spring 80 which is interposed inthe longitudinal guides 65 on thev fr amcwork. Thiscarriage 63 is given a recipro- `cating motion longitudinally of the -machine by means of the cam 66 operating the levers 67 connected to the said carriage and mounted on the shaft 68. The motion is transferred from the cam 66 to the shaft 68 bymeans -of the roll 69 mounted on the arm 70. Sliding in the guideway 64 are two oppositely moving members 71. Each of these members '7 1 is provided with a cam roll 72 engagingin the fixed cam slots 731on the framework so that as the carriage 63 re ciprocates the members 71 will reciprocate transversely backV and forth. Mounted upon the said members 71 are the members 74 which can be adjusted to different positions transversely of the machine by means of the thumb screws 75 adapted to engage with the holes 76. Two side gages 77 and 78 are mounted on the members 74. One of the said gages is held' unyieldingly but adjustably on one member 74 by means of the This connection is threaded in opposite directions and engages with one end in the member 74 and with its other end `in the member7 7. The 7 is held yieldingly by between the adjustlngv screw 81 carried. by` the member 78 and the member 74.

The impression cylinder is provided with suitable 4sheet taking devices such as the grippers 82 mounted onthe gripper rod 83 in the' cylinder and normally held in their closed positions by :means ofv the spring 84 in a wellknown manner. These grippers are adapted to be opened by means of kthe cam 85 which is here shown as being loosely mounted on a concentric portion 86 of one of the eccentric bushings 7 of the said impression cylinder. To prevent the said cam from following the turning movement of the bushings 7 lwhen the cylinder is tripped. there is provided a link 87 by means of which the said cam is secured to the framework 1. The motion from the cam 85 is impart-ed to the grippers by means of the cam roll 88 carried by the gripper rod. The cam 85 is so timed that the sheet is seized at the feeding point of the cylinder and is carried through between the cylinders -until the point shown in Fig. 17 is reached, when a sufficient amount of the sheet has lbeen carried through to prevent it from 4stickin to the blanket on the transfer cylinder. grippers are now opened and thesheetdrops on to the conveyer 89. Mounted on the grip pers 82v are the front gages 90 held in position by means of the set screws 91 passing through the slot' 92 of the said gages and" adjustable by means of the screws 93. Each gripper will usuallyfbe provided with one of these front gages, but in order to register the sheet properly two of these front gages ist lonly will be used, the rest being drawn back or otherwise disconnected.

101 indicates a lpushing device adapted to engage with the tail end of the sheet on the sheet support 35 to advance it toward the cylinders of the printing machine. This pushing device slides on two rods 102 arranged 'longitudinally of the machine and consists of a carriage having bushin 10,3 connected by means of transverse ro s 104. Mounted upon one of these transverse rods are upright pusher fingers 105 extending up through the sheet support 35.

The lingers 105 are held in their upright position by means of the threaded rods 106 passing through the sleeves 107 and are adjustable in the said sleeves by means of the nuts 108. A coiled spring 109 surrounds each of the rods 106, the tension of which can be adjusted by means of the threaded sleeve 110. The carriage of the pushing device is provided with longitudinal slots 111 in which the links 112 can be adjusted by means of the set screws 113. These links are connected with the levers 114 mounted on the shaft 115 which is rocked by means of the arm 11G carrying the roll 117 engaging with the cam 118.

The sheet support 35 consists of strippers 119 and 120 which overlap each other as shown, and which are supported at one end on t-he bracket 121 carried by the framework and with its other' end on the brackets 122 Ycarried by the auxiliary framework 123.

The brackets 121 and 122 are adjustable transversely by means of the set screws 124 and 125.

As the sheet advances under the inuence of the pushing device, the side registering device moves in the opposite direction and approaches the sheet transversely. The side registering device now reverses its motion f and moves in the same direction as the sheet maintaining it in register. As the front edge of the sheet comes in contact with the front gages, carried by the grippers on the impression cylinder7 itreceives its front register and is then seized by the grippers. Substantially at this moment the side registering device recedes transversely while the pushing device returns to its original position. r

The side registering device now preferably remains in this forward and separated position (the cam roll 69 being then in engagementwith the concentric portion of the cam 116, substantially as shown in Fig. 1, and the rolls 72. resting then in the forward angular ends of the camslots 73) until the next sheet is about. to be fed forward. As the next sheet is fed forward, the cam 66 has turned so that the throw thereof actuates the cam roll 09, thereby causing the carriage 6?.- to advance toward the approaching sheet and the rolls 72, due to their engagement portion of the slots 73, cause the side gages to approach and engage the opposite edges of the sheet (substantially the position illustrated in Fig. 9). The side registering device continues to move in the direction opposite to the travel of the Sheet, until the rolls 72 reach the end of the straight portion of the cam slot 73.

lwith the inclined At this time the cam roll (i9 is substantially in the lowest part of the depression in the cam tt. As the cam continues to revolve, the cam roll rides up to the concentric portion of the cam, whereby the forward throw is given to the side registering device. During this forward throw, the side registering device moves at substantially the same speed as the forward advancing movement of the sheet, and the rolls 72 engaging in the inclined portion of the slots, cause the side gages to be spread, substantially at the moment the forward end of the sheet is gripped by the sheettaking devices.

The auxiliary framework 123 is slidably mounted in the main framework and can be adjusted bv means of the gear 120 carried by the said auxiliary framework engaging with the rack 127 in the main framework. ly adjusting the auxiliary framework the sheet path 35 is lengthened or shortened to correspond to different lengths of sheet-s. To vary the position of the push ing device the set screws 11? are adjusted in the slots 111.

The auxiliary framework carries a feed table128 having the guides 129 and provided with a pair of rollers 130 and 131, which are geared together as shown, and the latter of which is pivotally supported on the shaft 132 so that it may be raised and lowered into contact with the roller 1510. 133 indicates a cam acting upon the roll 134 car ried by the arm 135 mounted on the bushing 136 seated loosely on the stud 137 in the end of the shaft 115. Connected to this bushing is the rod 138 having a slotted connection 129 with the arm 140 of the roller 131.. WVhen a sheet is placed upon the feed table 128 between the guides 129 a d on the roller 130, then, upon the descent o the sheet will be fed out. onto the sheet. support 35 in front of the pushing device.

Adjacent to the' feed table is a platform 1,41 adapted to hold a stack of sheets 112. This platform `is automatically raised by means of the screws 143 operated by the bevel gears 144 meshing with the bevel gears 145 on the transverse shaft 146. This shaft carries a ratchet 147 with which engages the pawl 148 pivoted at 149 and actuated by the rod 1F() connected to the lever 114-. The rod 1K0 passes through the bushing 151 carried by the lever 114 and is adjustably secured thereto by means of the set screw 152. so as to operate the pawl 148 in harmony with the other parts of the feeding mechanism.

.the roller 131.

l f the auxiliary framework is adjusted, the connection 150 is likewise adjusted to correspondtherewith. .in practice, the operator will stand behind the platform 141 and place the sheets one by one on the feed table l and on the lower roller 130. The operation of the machine will then cause the sheet to be automatically fed forward and printed. Any suitable gearing may be employed to transmit motion to the various parts. In

impression cylinder the other cylinders of, the printing couple are driven in the usual way. Gear. 158 also imparts motion to the conveye-r 89 by means of the pinions 161 and 162. The gear 155 also meshes with the pinion 163 which in turn drives the pinion 164 in mesh with thevgear 165 on the stud 166. The stud 166 carries the bevel gear the sheet.vn V ;Y 'j The -combination of a cylinder', sheet 167'meshing with the bevel gear 168 on the vlongitudinally extending shaft 169. Mounted on the shaft 169 is the bevel gear 170 adapted toslide thereon by means ofthe spline 171 so yas to compensatefor the adjustment of l the auxiliary framework.

Meshing with the gear 170 is the bevel gear 17 2 moving with the gear 173 on the roller 130. Vith the gear 173 meshes the pinion 174 on the roller 131.

vvWhat is claimed is:

1. The combination of means for feeding a sheet, a side registering device mounted independentof the sheet feeding means, and operating means for the side registering device adapted to cause the same to reciprocate longitudinally .during the feeding movement of the sheet, and to reciprocate transversely so as to engage the sideA edges of the sheet during the longitudinal reciprocating movement of the same.

2. The ,combination of a cylinder, sheet.- taking devices on said cylinder, means for feedingthe sheet into the bite of the sheet taking devices, side gages adapted to follow 4the movement of the sheet feeding means,

and means for moving the side gages transversely away from the sheet substantially at the l moment the sheet taking devices seize 'takingdev'ices on saidcylinder, vmeans` for feeding thefshelet,- into the bite of the sheet. taking devices, side gages having a combinedlongitudinal and transverse vreciprocating movement. said side gages. receding from the sheet substantially at'the moment tlie sheet taking devices seize the sheet.

4. The combination of means for feeding a sheet, side gages adapted to engage with the sides of the sheet, and operating means for said side gages adapted to cause the said gages to travel inwardly and, simultaneously therewith, in a direction opposite that of the feeding movement of the sheet, then in a straight direction opposite to the feeding movement of the sheet, then in the same direction as the feeding movement of the sheet in a straightv line, and then outwardly away from the sheet and in a direction following the feeding movement of the sheet. i

5. The .combination of means for engaging with the tail end of the sheet to push it forward, side gages adapted to engage wit-li the sides of the sheet, and operating means for said side gages adapted to cause the said gages to travel inwardly and, simultaneously therewith, in a direction opposite that of the feeding movement of the sheet, then in a straight direction opposite to the feeding movement of the sheet, then in the same direction as the feeding movement of the sheet in a straight line, and then outwardly away from the sheet and in a 4direction following the feeding movement of the sheet.

6. The combination of a cylinder, sheet taking devices on said cylinder, means for feeding a sheet forward into the bite of the sheet taking devices, aside registering device, means for imparting a combined longitudinal and transverse reciprocating movement to theside registering device so timed that as the sheet commences its forward movement, the lside registering device travels in the opposite-direction and moves inwardly approaching the sheet, then reverses its motion traveling forward with the sheet maintaining it in register and finally recedes from the sheet substantially t at the moment it is seized by the sheet taking devices.

7. The combination of a cylinder, sheet taking devices on said cylinder, front registering devices carried by the sheet taking devices, means for feeding the sheet against the front' registering devices and into' the -bit-e of the sheet taking devices, a side registering device adapted to follow the move-` ment of the sheet feeding means, and means for moving the side registering device trans'- versely away from the sheet substantially at the momentthe latter contacts with the front registering-device and is seized by the sheet taking device.

8. The combination of a cylinder, sheet taking devices on said cylinder, front registering devices carried by the sheet taking devices, means for feeding the sheet: against 'thefront registering devices vand into the bite of the vsheet taking devices, anda side registering device having a combined longitudinal and transverse reciprocating movevice so timed that as the sheet commences its forward movement the side registering device travels in the opposite direction and moves inwardly approaching the sheet, then reverses its motion traveling forward with' the sheet maintainin it in register, and finally recedes from t e sheet substantially at the moment it contacts with the front registering device and is seize-d by the sheet taking device.

10. A side registering device comprising a transversely extending carirage forming a guideway, means for reciprocating said carriage longitudinally, side gages rslidably mounted in said guideway, and vmeans for reciprocating said gages tr nsversely.

11. A side registering deji ce comprising a transversely extending carriage forming a guideway, means for reciprocating said carriage longitudinally, oppositiely sliding members in said guideway, means for reciprocating said members transversely, and gages adjustably mounted on said members.

`12. A side registering device comprising a transversely extending carriage formingv a guideway, means for reciprocatingsaid carriage longitudinally, loppositely sliding members in said guideway, means for reciprocating said members transversely, a

gage adjustably secured to one of said meinbers, and a gage, having an independenttransverse yielding movement, secured to the said otherI member.

13. The combination'ofv a sheet support, a pushing device adapted toengage with the tail end of thefsheetto 'move it forward, a side registering device, and means for imparting a. combined longitudinal and transverse reciprocatingy movement to the side registering device,'so timed that as the sheet advances under the influence of the pushing device the side registering device travels in the opposite direction and moves inwardly approaching the sheet, then reverses its mo` tion traveling forward with the sheet main-y taining it. in register and finally recedes from the sheet substantially at the moment the pushing device comes to the end of its motion.l

14.-. The combi-nation of a sheet support. .a pushing device adapted to engage with the and for raising the platform, timed to operate in proper sequence.

l5. The combination of a main framework, an auxiliary framework adjustable on the main framework, a sheet support, carried at one end on the main framework and at its other end on the auxiliary framework, adjustable with the auxiliary framework to vary its length, a pushing device for engaging with the tail end of a sheet on the support, means for operating said pushing device having a constant stroke and means for varying the position of the pushing device according to the length of the support.

16. The combination of a main framework, an auxiliary framework adjustable on the main framework, a sheet support, carried at one end on the main framework, and at its other end on the auxiliary framework, adjustable with the auxiliary framework to vary its length, a pushing device for engaging with the tail end of a sheet on the support, means for operating said pushing device having a constant stroke and means for varyin the position of the pushing device according to the length of the support, a feed table carried by the auxiliary framework, means for feeding a sheet from the feed table` onto the sheet support, a platform for holding a stack of sheets adapted to be intermittently raised, also carried by the auxiliary framework, and driving connections for operating the means for feeding a sheet from the table to the support and foi' raising the platform adjustable to correspond to the position of the auxiliary framework.

17.1n combination with sheet feeding means, a side registering device comprising ya carriage having a bodily reciprocating movement, side gages carried by said cai'- riage, and means for imparting to the side gages a transversely reciprocating movei ment on the carriage.

18. Sheet feeding mechanism comprising, pusher fingers, a carriage, means for imparting a longitudinal reciprocating motion to sald carriage, side gages movable transversely on the said carriage, and means for imparting a transverse reciprocating Inovement to the side gages as the carriage is reciprocated longitudinally.

19. A side registering device comprising, a carriage, means for imparting a reciprocating movement to said carriage, members slidably mounted on said carriage, side gages carried by said members, cam rolls si g Y 1,066,528.

on the outerends of said members, and members havlngcam s'lots adapted for engagement by said Cam rolls for imparting an independent movement to the sliding mem-V 5 bers during the bodily reciprocation of the carriage.

20. Sheet feeding mechanism comprising "sheet advancing means for engaging the rear edge of the sheet to advance the same,

10 side gages mounted independently of the sheet advancing means, and means for moving said side gages 1n opposite d1reet1ons into engagement With the opposite side Witnesses g Y `llRVING A. HUNTING, V

J. HERBERT CASE. 

